Machine for marking the locations of traffic stripes on highways



March 31, 1953 Filed June 8, 1951 UDLEY ET AL 2,633,382

MACHINE FbR iv! KING THE LOCATIONS OF TRAFFIC STRIPES 0N HIGHWAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 7Z97ZmM/J'mmm v Kim/242K402 ATTORNEYS March 31, 1953 c. H. DUDLEY EIAL MACHINE FOR MARKING THE LOCATIONS OF TRAFFIC STRIPES 0N HIGHWAYS Filed June 8, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1953 c, UD E r 2,633,382

. MACHINE FOR MARKING THE LOCATIONS 0F TRAFFIC STRIPES ON HIGHWAYS Filed June 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MARKING YTH'E LOCATIONS OF TRAFFIC STRIPES N HIGHWAYS Charlie H. Dudley and Edwin R. McGrath, Ashcboro, N. 0.

Application J one 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,484

3 Claims.

68111361" or mid-Width loatioll of the hi'gll'w'alll which is self-propelled so it can be accurately guided along a highway and is adjustable for difiei'ent highway widths and to make traflic stripes at locations other than along the center of a highway; which is light in weight so it can be easily transported from place to place; which paints a continuous and clearly visible traffic line at the desired location, but is economical in its use of paint and will operate for a long period without replenishment of its paint supply; and which is simple, strong and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and operate, and rapid and effective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a highway marking machine illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine looking at the left-hand side of the machine as viewed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the right-hand side of the machine as viewed in Figure 1, showing structural details of the machine;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the right-hand end portion of the machine as viewed in Figure 3, a portion being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 'I-'! of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

With continued reference to the drawings, the machine has a frame, generally indicated at III, of right triangular shape with the apical portions truncated and disposed substantially perpendicular to the opposed sides, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 3. The frame includes a tubular rear cross member II which is preferably of rectangular cross sectional shape and may be provided by welding two angle iron members together in edge to edge relationship, a right hand longitudinal side member I2 similar to, but somewhat shorter than the rear crossmember II, a hypotenuse member I3 also similar in structure to the rear and side members, a front cross member I4, and a left hand side member I5. The front cross member I4 extends: from the end of the side member I2 remot'ef'rom mote from the side member I2 to the rear mem ber II substantially parallel to the side member I2, and an intermediate longitudinal member I! extends between the front member I4 and the rear member II between the intermediate mem-.

ber I6 and the side member I2 spaced from and substantially parallel to the intermediate member I6. A pair of spaced apart and substantiallyv parallel intermediate members I8 and I9 extendbetween the rear member I I and the hypotenuse member I3 adjacent to and substantially parallel to the intermediate member I6 at the side,

of the latter remote from the side member I2, and a base plate 20 is mounted on th members I6, I8 and I9 between the rear member and the hypotenuse member.

An intermediate longitudinal member 2I extends between the hypotenuse member I3 and the rear member II adjacent to the side member I5 and between the side member I5 and the intermediate member I9, this intermediate member 2I being, substantially parallel to the adjacent side member I5.

Downwardly projecting apertured lugs, as indicated at 22 in Figure '7, are mounted one on each of the intermediate members I6 and I1 at locations adjacent the rear member II and an. axle 23 is mounted at its ends in these lugs, A1 rear driving wheel 24 is disposed between the i'n-I termediate longitudinal frame members I6 and member II of the frame.

Similar lugs 25 are mounted on the intermediate longitudinal frame members 15 and 2| adjacent the rear frame member H and an axle 26 is journaled in the lugs 25. A rear wheel 21 is disposed between the intermediate longitudinal frame members l and 2| and journaled on the axle 26 for supporting the left hand side of the frame.

An arcuately curved bracket 28 is secured at one end to the front frame member I4 and projects upwardly and forwardly from the front end of the frame in longitudinal alignment with the traction or driving wheel 24. This bracket carries a bearing sleeve 29 at its end remote from the frame and a vertically disposed wheel fork 30 has its stem 3| journaled in the bearing sleeve 29 and depends from the bearing sleeve. At its lower end the fork carries an axle 32 and a steerable front wheel 33 is disposed in the wheel fork and journaled on the axle 32.

A steering gear unit 34 is mounted on the frame adjacent the frame connected end of the bracket 28 and a steering column 35 projects upwardly and rearwardly from the unit 34 and carries a steering wheel 36 at its rear end. A drop arm 3! depends from the unit 34 and is connected by a drag link 38 with a steering arm 39 on the fork 36, so that the front wheel 33 can be steered by the steering wheel 36.

A drivers seat 40 is mounted on the frame adjacent and somewhat rearwardly of the steering wheel 36 and an engine 4! is mounted on the base plate 20 at the side of the drivers seat remote from the right hand side member 12 of the frame.

The engine 4! may be a one cylinder gasoline engine of well known construction and has a belt pulley 42 mounted on its drive shaft 43. The belt pulley is connected to the drive shaft through an automatic clutch or torque converter 44 which operates to drivingly disconnect the engine shaft from the belt pulley when the speed of the engine is below a predetermined rate and to drive the belt pulley from the engine shaft when the speed of the engine exceeds such predetermined rate of speed.

Bearing blocks 45 and 46 are mounted on the intermediate frame members [6 and I9 respectively between the engine 4| and the rear drive wheel 24 and a shaft 49 is journaled near its opposits ends in these bearing blocks, a belt pulley 41 is mounted on one end of this shaft in alignment with the belt pulley 42 on the engine shaft. A belt 48 drivingly connects the belt pulley 42 to the belt pulley 41 to drive the shaft 49 from the engine.

Bearing blocks 50 and 5| are mounted on the intermediate longitudinal frame members 16 and I9, respectively, adjaoent'to rear frame member II, and a shaft 52 is journaled in these bearing blocks. A belt pulley 53 is mounted on the shaft 52 and a belt pulley 54 is mounted on the shaft 49 in alignment with the belt pulley 53. A belt 55 connects the belt pulleys 54 and 53 to provide a drive for the shaft 52.. The belt pulley 42 is smaller than the belt pulley 41' and the belt pulley 54 is smaller than the belt pulley 53, so that a speed reducing drive is provided from the engine to the shaft 52. A chain sprocket 56 is mounted on the end of the shaft 52 adjacent the rear drive wheel 24 and a chain sprocket 51 is mounted on the rear drive wheel coaxially of the axle 23 and the sprocket 56 is drivingly connected to the sprocket 51 by a chain 58. The sprocket 56 is smaller than the sprocket 51 to provide 4 a further speed reduction from the shaft 52 to the wheel 24.

While the elements 48 and 55 have been described as belts, these may also be link chains, as illustrated in Figure 7, to provide a more positive drive between the engine and the rear drive wheel of the machine.

A brake mechanism 59 is mounted on the shaft 52 between the frame intermediate members l6 and i8 and a brake shaft 66 extends transversely of the intermediate frame members 16 and I1 and the side member [2 adjacent the driver's seat 40 and is connected at its end adjacent the intermediate member 16 to the brake mechanism 59 by a brake rod iii. A brake pedal 62 is mounted on the frame side member [2 near the front end of this side member and is connected to the brake shaft 60 by a variable length link 63, so that the brake will be applied when the brake pedal 62 is depressed and the connection between the pedal and the brake mechanism can be adusted to compensate for wear and other variations in the mechanism.

A stand or bracket 64 in the form of a fourlegged structure of generally pyramidal shape is mounted on the frame between the frame members l2 and H and disposed between the seat 40 and the front end member I4 of the frame and carries at its upper end a bearing block 65 in which the steering column 35 is supported at a. location intermediate the length of the steering column.

A guide member 66 in the form of an elongated bar has one end disposed in overlapping relationship to the frame side member [2 at the front end of this member and projects forwardly beyond the front end of the frame and the front steering wheel 33 in longitudinal alignment with the frame side member l2. This guide is provided in its portion overlapping the frame side member with apertures spaced apart longitudinally of the guide and the frame side member is provided with tapped holes registering with the apertures in the guide. Screws or bolts 61 and 68 extend through the apertures in the guide and are threaded into the tapped holes in the frame side member to detachably secure the guide to the frame. The front end of the guide 66 is forwardly and upwardly curved, as indicated at 69, and a diagonal brace 10 is secured at one end to the guide 66 near the front end of the guide and at its other end to the hypotenuse member 13 of the frame near the front end of the frame intermediate member IS. The diagonal brace 10 may conveniently comprise a length of metal tubing having its ends flattened and apertured and is secured to the guide and the frame by screws or bolts extending through the apertures in the flattened end portions of the brace and threaded into tapped holes in the guide and the frame.

By maintaining the guide in alignment with the edge of the road, the machine can be steered along the edge of the road and irregularities in the edge of the road pavement will not cause deflections in the path of travel of the machine.

A boom H, preferably comprising a length of metal tubing of rectangular cross sectional shape,

is slidably received at one end in to the left hand.

end of the rear frame cross member H remote from the side member 12 and is secured in selected positions of longitudinal adjustment relative to the rear frame cross member by set screws 12 and i3 threaded through tapped holes in the wall of the rear frame member and bearing at '5 their inner ends against'the adjacent side of the boom H.

At its left hand end remote from the frame the boom is provided with apertured lugs 14 and 15 which depend from the boom, one at the corresponding end of the boom and one spaced inwardly therefrom and arms 16 and ii are piv otally connected at their rear ends to the lugs 14 and 15 respectively, and. extend forwardly and downwardly from these lugs.

A wheel axle 18 extends between and is secured at its ends to the arms 16 and 11 near the front ends of these arms and an outrider wheel 19 is disposed between the arms l6 and i1 and journaled on the axle [8.

With this. arrangement, the distance of the outboard wheel is from the guide rod 66 can be adjusted to position the wheel at the center of a highway or at some other selected distance from the left hand edge of the highway, so that the machine can be used with equal facility on highways of different widths and for locating trafiic stripes at positions other than at the centerof a highway.

A stand Si! is mounted on the frame at the end thereof remote from the side member 12 and comprises upwardly extending legs SI and 82 disposed at respectively opposite sides of the rear wheel 21 and mounted at their lower ends on the frame members 2! and i respectively. A paint container 83 is mounted on the upper end of the stand 80 above the wheel 21 and is provided in its bottom with an outlet fitting 34 and near its top with an air vent fitting 85.

A hand valve 36 is secured on the end of the fitting 84 remote from the container and a flexible hose 8? is secured at one end to the valve 85.

A double ended pipe fitting 88 is secured to the outer side of the outer arm 'i'l near the front end of this arm and a valve 89 having an outwardly extending control lever 99 is mounted on the upper end of the fitting 88. The hose 8! is connected to the valve 89 at the end of the valve remote from the fitting 88 and a nipple 9! is connected to the end of the fitting remote from the valve.

A short length of flexible hose 92 is connected at one end to the nipple Si and a paint dispensing nozzle 93 is connected to the other end of the hose 92 to deliver paint to the surface of a highway at the outboard side of the wheel 19.

The piece of flexible hose e2 interposed between the nipple 9i and the nozzle 93 protects the nozzle against damage in the event it encounters an obstruction on the highway.

A spring 9G is connected between the arm ill and the distal end of the valve lever 90 and resiliently urges the valve 89 to open condition.

A sheave 95 is mounted on the boom H at the end of the boom remote from the frame In and a second sheave 95 is mounted on the frame at the right angle corner thereof. An adjustable hand lever 97 is pivotally mounted on the frame side member l2 adjacent the drivers seat 40 and a flexible cable 98 is connected at one end to the distal end of the valve lever 96, is carried around the sheaves 95 and 96 and connected at its other end to the hand lever 97, so that the valve 89 can be controlled from the drivers seat of the vehicle to turn on and cut off the paint supplied to the nozzle 93, as desired.

Flagpole sockets mt, Hll and I02 are mounted on the rear side of the rear frame member ll. Each of these sockets comprises a hollow tubular structure having an open top end and a substantially closed bottom end provided with a drain hole,.as indicated at I03 in Figure 8. Flagpoles, as indicated at I04, are carried one by each of the flagpole sockets. Each flagpole has its lower end slidably received in the corresponding sock et and carries a warning flag, as indicated at IE5, at its upper end to warn traffic on the highway of the presence of the highway marking equipment. Preferably, the sockets are disposed one at each end of the rear frame member. H and one adjacentthe mid-length location of this frame member and a third socket I06 carrying a flagpole It? is carried by the boom H near the outer end thereof.

I The machine of the present invention is used only to provide a marking line along the highway to indicate the location of the trafiic stripe. After the mark has been made on the highway, 2. diiferent machine is used to paint the traflic stripe on the surface of the highway. The stripe painting machines are not adapted to accurately measure the distance from the edge of the highway to the center thereof, but can be held with reasonable accuracy on an indicating line already provided on the highway. The machine of this invention is, therefore, provided primarily to accurately determine the exact location of the marking stripe, so that a stripe can be subsequently painted on the highway along this location.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a trafiic line marking machine, a horizontal frame having laterally spaced longitudinal side members and a rear cross member, laterally I spaced first and second ground engaging wheels on a rear part of said frame, said ground engaging wheels being substantially in axial alignment with each other and located near the longitudinal side frame members, said first wheel being a traction wheel, motor means on said frame drivingly connected to the traction wheel, a steerable wheel on a forward part of the frame in longitudinal alignment with said tractor wheel, a boom slidably mounted on said rear frame cross member for longitudinal adjustment relative to said rear cross member, said boom having a free outer end, ground engaging wheel means on the free end of the boom, means for locking said boom in adjusted position, and road marking means including a marking element on the free end of the boom.

2. In a traffic line marking machine, a horizontal frame having laterally spaced longitudinal side members and a rear cross member, laterally spaced first and second ground engaging wheels on a rear part of said frame, said ground engaging wheels being substantially in axial alignment with each other and located near the longitudinal side frame members, said first wheel being a traction wheel, motor means on said frame drivingly connected to the traction wheel, a steerable wheel on a forward part of the frame in longitudinal alignment with said tractor wheel, a boom slidably mounted on said rear frame cross member for longitudinal adjustment relative to said rear cross member, said boom having a free outer end, ground engaging wheel means on the free end of the boom, means for locking said boom in adjusted position, and road marking means including a marking element on the free end of the boom, said marking means comprising a paint tank mounted on said frame over the second ground engaging wheel, a paint conduit leading from said paint tank to said marking element.

3. In a trafiic line marking machine, a horizontal frame having laterally spaced longitudinal side members and a rear cross member, laterally spaced first and second ground engaging wheels on a rear part of said frame, said ground engaging wheels being substantially in axial alignment with each other and located near the longitudinal side frame members, said first wheel being a traction wheel, motor means on said frame drivingly connected to the traction wheel, a steerable wheel on a forward part of the frame in longitudinal alignment with said tractor wheel, a boom slidably mounted on said rear frame cross member for longitudinal adjustment relative to said rear cross member, said boom having a free outer end, ground engaging wheel means on the free end of the boom, means for locking said boom in'adjusted position, and road marking means including a marking element on the free end of the boom, the longitudinal frame side member adja cent to said traction wheel having a longitudinal road edge following guide rod thereon, said guide rod extending forwardly from the frame.

CHARLIE H. DUDLEY. EDWIN R. MCGRATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,695 Sapp Oct. 1, 1935 2,026,678 Hefner Jan. 7, 1936 2,076,172 Bowden Apr. 6, 1937 2,518,952 Sohmer Aug. 15, 1950 

